Sovanna Phum presents Folk and Traditionnal KHMER DANCE Friday, March 28th 7:30 pm Entrance fee: 5$ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Programme Roban Houm Roug - Stage sacrificial Dance (f) Roban Sovan Matcha - Golden Mermaid Dance (c) Roban Cham Thmey - Cham Thmey Dance (f) Roban Moni Mekala - Moni Mekala Dance (c) *** Roban Chrot Srov - Harvesting Rice Dance (f) Roban Boung Soung - A Pray Dance (c) Roban Veay Krap - Krap Dance (f) Riem Klain So - Riem Klain So Dance (c) Tbal Kdang - Dance of the pestle (f) *** (f): folk dance (c): classical dance -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sovanna Phum theatre #111, St 360 (corner 105) - Phnom Penh Tel: 012 846 020 art@sovannaphum.com http://www.sovannaphum.com

When I was cramming for Chinese class in 1987 I haunted the Cowell College library, a quiet place where most of the students didn’t know me and hence, couldn’t distract me. I had no trouble finding my own distractions though. My favorite desk had a nice view outside and a stack of yellowing CIA Asia documents behind it, usually transcripts from North Korean media. When I was really bored, I’d reach out behind my back and grab a random report. Invariably, they used Orwellian doublespeak about the glorious leader Kim Il Sung and his progeny. Back in the day Kim Il Sung was a resistance fighter against the Japanese, which did have a certain respectability. But things turned a bit extreme, and the nation is probably now the biggest cult of personality left in the world, now run by the glorious leader’s son, Kim Jong Il. North Korea is indeed weirdness on earth. It’s got a replica of the Arc de Triomphe bigger than the original. The capital city has three lanes on the roads, one especially reserved for the car of the illustrious leader. The radios are all tuned to one station. The population is exposed to a high level of indoctrination, and many are starving due to chronic food shortages. There is staged tourism, and apparently there are two casinos there exclusively for tourists. In the 60s and 70s Prince Sihanouk made a point of trying to balance all sides in the Cold War, when things were getting hot in Southeast Asia. When the Lon Nol coup happened in the 1970s Sihanouk was given a residence and refuge in Pyonyang as well as Beijing. To this day his bodyguards are North Korean, given to him by Kim Il Sung. Flash forward to 2003. Driving along the airport road towards Angkor, a real head-turner (whiplash!) is the Pyonyang Cold Noodle Restaurant. Why a North Korean restaurant in Siem Reap? There is no doubt some small trade between the two countries. And to further demonstrate that there are friendly ties (and perhaps open the door to future commerce), why not a small restaurant? Doubtless the staff chosen to work there have strong family ties with government officials, I’d wager. Naturally this had to be checked out. We had the good fortune to have Thai, a Cambodian Korean speaking guide to help us navigate the menu and customs. The food was good, with slight variations from standard Korean fare, perhaps a bit less spicy. The cold noodles are a treat, long enough that they’re cut with a pair of scissors at the table. The real humor (and a sprinkle of pathos) came when the staff fired up the karaoke machine and started belting out songs. Some of them can really sing! (The repertoire included South Korean songs, Cambodian music, and Western Songs ?no North Korean Karaoke to speak of. But they’ll probably have North Korean hip hop in another five years, knowing the way of the world.) Of course there were only three tables of customers in terms of audience. Karaoke feels contrived in the West, but here it is just a feature in the Asian cultural landscape. Maybe a few more glasses of Shoju (rice alcohol) and I’d get up and sing, but I had work the next day. The place is frequented not only by occasional tourists but other Koreans in town. Siem Reap is a small town and there’s no demilitarized zone to navigate to get in the door. Rumor has it the waitresses are appreciated by the Korean men for their demure and traditional manner, perhaps a bit of nostalgia for the past. Given the current massive famines, the North Korean administration has clearly failed in any sort of leadership role. But changing things will take some effort. More exposure to different cultures and different people couldn’t hurt as a small step in the process of sorting out the many problems at hand. (After all, it was when the Khmer Rouge strongholds started to sprout television aerials that we knew the end was near.) Maybe a little less isolation, and a few more cold noodle joints might not be a bad idea.

Vendredi 21 Mars/ Friday March 21 You are cordially invited to attend the following informal presentation: ARCHTECTURAL TRANSLATION OF BANTEAY KDEI TEMPLE: STUDY ON THE RELATIVE CHRONOLOGY OF THE ARCHITECTURAL MONUMENTS Hisao ARAHI ARCHITECT, RESEARCH FELLOW INSTITUTE OF ASIAN CULTURE, SOPHIA UNIVERSITY Banteay Kdei est un des plus grands monuments de Jayavarman VI. Toutefois, son histoire est énigmatique par rapport au Preah Khan et Ta Prohm, temples contemporains de Banteay Kdei, dont sa stèle de fondation portant l’histoire du temple a été déjà redécouverte. Basé sur une lecture architecturale approfondie, une des parties de la thèse de doctorat de M. Arahi concerne les modifications architecturales et le vocabulaire des formes, permettant une datation approximative. Banteay Kdei is one of the principal monuments of Jayavarman VII. Nevertheless, the history of the temple is unknown as compared with Ta Prohm and Preah Khan of which the stale of foundation related to the history of temple has been discovered. The presentation will introduce one part of Arahi’s Ph.D research regarding the architectural modification and the repertory of formal motifs, which enables us to arrive at an appreciative dating, on the basis of a detailed architectural analysis. Hisao ARAHI est chercheur de l’Institute of Asian Cultures, Université de Sophia et membre de la Mission Internationale sur l'Étude Scientifique d'Angkor de l'Université de Sophia. Basé au Cambodge depuis 1996, il élabore ses études sur l’architecture khmère. Dès lors, il participe aux activités de conservation et d’entretien du temple de Banteay Kdei effectuées par ladite institution en collaboration avec l’autorité APSARA. Il obtient un Ph.D suite à la présentation d’une thèse de doctorat portant sur l'«Étude de l’évolution architecturale et des techniques traditionnelles utilisées au temple de Banteay Kdei, à Angkor, Cambodge», présenté au Centre International Raymond Lemaire pour la Conservation, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven en Belgique. Hisao ARAHI is research fellow of Institute of Asian Cultures, Sophia University and member of Sophia University Angkor International Mission (Sophia Mission). Staying in Siem Reap since 1996, he studies on Khmer architecture and is in charge of scientific and maintenance activities of Banteay Kdei temple carried by Sophia Mission in cooperation with APSARA authority. He obtains Ph. D by the presentation of a doctoral thesis on the «Étude de l’évolution architecturale et des techniques traditionnelles utilisées au temple de Banteay Kdei, à Angkor, Cambodge » submitted to Raymond Lemaire International Center for the Conservation Katholieke Universiteit Leuven in Belgium. La présentation aura lieu le 21 mars, à 18 heures 30 dans la bibliothèque de l’EFEO Presentation will be in English In order to encourage scientific exchange, formally as well as informally, we are planning to follow up with other presentations by speakers working on subjects of interest to the Siem Reap scholarly community. You will be noticed by e-mail of these developments as they occur. Please do not hesitate to forward this invitation to whoever you feel would be interested. Ecole Française d'Extrême-Orient (EFEO) Siem Reap Phum Beng Don Pa, Khum Slâ Kram Tel: (885) (16) 635 037 / (63) 964 630 Tel/Fax: (855) (63) 964 226 Email: efeo.angkor@camintel.com / efeo.rep.bib@camintel.com EFEO Web Site: www.efeo.fr

Terminology: Back in the States, they're renaming food 'Freedom Fries' and 'Freedom Toast'. Maybe they want to give back the Statue of Liberty too? Dave Barry suggests some friendly phrases to patch up differences. ''Bonjour, personne francaise!'' (``Hello, French person!'') ''Je suis un Americain, et, dangue il, je vais vous donner une grande vieille etreinte!'' (``I am an American and, dang it, I am going to give you a big old hug!'') ''Qui s'inquiete qui court darned le monde?'' (``Who cares who runs the darned world?'') ''Voulez que je vous porte au mail dans mon SUV?'' (``Want me to take you to the mall in my Sport Utility Vehicle?'') http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/living/columnists/dave_barry/5398886.htm

JOB OFFER oSmoSe is a non for profit association working in Prek Toal village, Tonle Sap for the protection of the waterbirds (the last colonies left in Southeast Asia) and sustainable local development through a multi-sectoral approach including conservation, education and ecotourism. oSmoSe is expanding its activities and is looking for a Cambodian national to fill the position of Local Development and Ecotourism officer. The position is based in Siem Reap and involves frequent travel and stay in Prek Toal floating village, Battambang province. Main responsibilities · Manage and develop the community development component, mainly through the strengthening and expansion of the floating garden project, planning and implementing case-by-case family assistance and set up of a medical support system (consultations and evacuations). · Assess effectiveness of the program through follow up of the socio-economic status of the beneficiary families. · Find ways of raising community awareness and develop links between the community development assistance and the conservation and ecotourism components. · Build her/his knowledge on the Tonle Sap natural and human features and his/her capacities to be able to guide groups of visitors to Prek Toal. Qualifications · Higher school or university degree in relevant subject (development, agriculture, health, education, environment) · Two-year experience in community development work in rural Cambodia · Experience in environment and/or natural resource management a plus · Good command of English · Strong inter-personal and communication skills · Perseverance and creativity to meet and solve challenging poverty issues · Keen to learn and interest for wildlife conservation · Flexibility and hard working temper Interested candidates should send a letter of motivation with a Curriculum Vitae before 31 March to: OSmoSe - Conservation, Education, Ecotourism Sam Veasna Center for Wildlife Conservation P.O. Box 9345 - Siem Reap E-mail: osmose@bigpond.com.kh Short listed candidates will be contacted for interview.

Folk and Traditional Dance Friday 14th March 2003 at 7.30 P.M. Entrance fee 5 U$ No. 111a Street 360 (corner St 105) Boeung Kang Kong III, Phnom Penh - HP 012 84 60 20 or 012 857 437 - e-mail: art@sovannaphum.com

SOVANNA PHUM presents ROUSEY DEK - "Bambou Ferraille" Friday 7th March 2003 at 7.30 P.M. We bring you to a new Cambodian world of imagination with Dance, Shadow theatre, Circus & music in an exceptional performance Entrance fee 5 U$ No. 111a Street 360 (corner St 105) Boeung Kang Kong III, Phnom Penh - HP 012 84 60 20 or 012 857 437 e-mail: art@sovannaphum.com

Free Chhom Nimol update - free at last! A big thank you to everyone who helped with words of support and encouragement, donations and those who came out to support the two fundraiser events we had this past week. We raised about $2000 to help out with Nimol's legal fees. We especially want to thank Scott Sterling from the Fold and all of the bands that played last night--Brazzaville, Future Pigeon and the Radar Bros. The music was great and thanks for all the support. We also have our first show since Nimol's release this Thursday at the Derby with Rene Risque and the Art Lovers and Happy Ending. We go on at 11 but we're not sure what cover is for the night. Hope to see everyone there. Thanks, dengue fever ps--our full length album is being mixed as we speak...we'll keep you all posted!

Hmm...I've been following Oulipo for some time...now I find it here on my doorstep. From the bulletin of the French Cultural Centre, Siem Reap: March 20 is the day of the Francophone celebration – We will honor linguistic, cultural and friendly ties that French creates between many peoples with a presentation with the wordplay of Jacques Prévert. During which poems will be read, and one day of plays and youngest songs, by a contest of Potential Literature which invites you to to write small a text, a poem, a history starting from ten imposed words. Jacques Prévert Thursday Mars has 20h00 Prévert- evening short reading of texts and exposure. Afterwards? French-speaking midday Result of the contest of the francophonie Activitiés, plays, songs, coordinated by Mrs Ria So Saturday March 22 starting from 15h00 Centre Cuturel French Annexes of Siem reap No 366 Pram pi Makara Siem Reap Straight across the bridge from of the old market. The French Arts centre is 100 meters further. Telephone & Telefax: 063 963 265 Ccf.rep@bigpond.com.kh --------------------------------------------------------------- Le 20 mars est la journée de la francophonie. Le lien linguistique, culturel et amical que crée le français entre de nombreux peoples est donc à l’honneur et nous le fêterons dignement, par une exposition consacrée à Jacques Prévert – joueur de mots – Durant laquelle ses poèmes seront lus, par une journée de jeux et chansons poru les plus jeunes, par un concours d’ouvroir de Littérature Potentielle qui vous invite touir à prende vos plumes anfin de rédiger un petit texted, un poème, une histoire à partir de dix mots imposés. Jacques Prévert Jeudi Mars a 20h00 Soirée Prévert- courte lecture de texts et exposition ----------------------------------------------------------------- Après – midi Francophone Résultat du concours décriture de la francophonie Activitiés, jeux, chants, coordonnés par Madame Ria So Samedi 22 mars à partir de 15h00 Centre Cuturel Francais Annexe de Siem reap No. 366 Pram Pi Makara Siem Reap Traverser le point du vieux marché, aller tout droit. Le Centre culturel français est sur votre droite à 100 mètres. Telephone & Telecopie: 063 963 265 Ccf.rep@bigpond.com.kh

Have just scaled back my work time in favor of temple time. Gotta buy some sunscreen.

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